'It's his call'

Riley Baggs is handed a goaltender interference penalty late in overtime after being guided into the net on a partial break. The Crushers scored on the ensuing powerplay to end the game.

Regan Spears, the villain of the night, celebrates as Taylor Davis' point shot beats Jacob Fancy late in overtime. Spears was hammered on by Zach Beaton in the second period, leading to a nine-minute Crushers powerplay.

The Crushers celebrate after Taylor Davis' overtime winner.

TRURO – Riley Baggs sat in the penalty box in overtime and watched as the Pictou County Weeks Crushers ended the Truro Bearcats’ home opener with one shot.

Moments earlier, he had the puck on his stick, streaking down the ice with just one defender and the goalie to beat. With the defender pressuring him and nowhere to go, Baggs crashed into the Crushers net.

The referee’s hand went up in the air as 834 referees in the stands went up in anger.

With 1:02 left in the game, Taylor Davis scored his third goal of the night to give the Crushers a 3-2 win.

“I think that’s ridiculous,” Baggs said afterwards. “To not call (an apparent trip) earlier in the overtime period but to call that and ruin the game… But it’s his call.”

It’s something to live with and move on from, the 18-year-old defenceman said.

It was an interesting game all around – one that saw a nine-minute powerplay for the Crushers and the first glimpse of three-on-three overtime for Truro.

After a scoreless first period, Denver Lynds got things started for the Bearcats with a goal at 5:56 of the second period. Midway through the frame, things got nasty as Zach Beaton took exception to a hit from Crushers forward Regan Spears. Beaton jumped Spears, landing several blows while the Crushers’ agitator dropped to the ice and turtled.

Beaton was given five for fighting, two for instigating and two for being the aggressor. Spears high fived his teammates as he skated to the bench penalty-free.

The Bearcats survived the nine-minute kill with just one goal against, to Davis at 16:07.

“You don’t see that very often,” said Bearcats coach Shawn Evans, referring to the lengthy powerplay.

Truro jumped out to an early lead in the third period, when 20-year-old newcomer Braydon Blight scored his first goal as a Bearcat with a seeing-eye point shot on the powerplay.

The Crushers had several chances denied by Bearcats goalie Jacob Fancy, until Davis beat him again with less than five minutes to play.

Overtime saw the teams drop two skaters and try the new format for the first time. The teams played man-to-man defence until the powerplay and ensuing winner on a high-slot shot from Davis.

“It was definitely tiring that’s for sure,” said Blight, who started the OT frame. “It’s a different change. There’s going to be a lot of offence out there, but it’s just sticking to your guy until you get a chance to jump in.”

Evans wasn’t a fan of the penalty call, but said the team could have done better to avoid the situation all together.

“I didn’t like it,” he said. “But you know what, at the end of the day, you have to find ways. Our goalie was really good tonight, but the shots indicate they were the better team... There are night where you take your one point and run. Tonight is one of those nights."

For Baggs, a fast and offensive-minded defender, his first taste of three-on-three didn’t go as planned.

“I love three-on-three and four-on-four hockey. It’s really exciting but it can end a game a lot quicker than a five-on-five… It never worked out for me tonight.”

The Bearcats will be back on home ice next Saturday when they host the Summerside Western Capitals at 7 p.m.

Moments earlier, he had the puck on his stick, streaking down the ice with just one defender and the goalie to beat. With the defender pressuring him and nowhere to go, Baggs crashed into the Crushers net.

The referee’s hand went up in the air as 834 referees in the stands went up in anger.

With 1:02 left in the game, Taylor Davis scored his third goal of the night to give the Crushers a 3-2 win.

“I think that’s ridiculous,” Baggs said afterwards. “To not call (an apparent trip) earlier in the overtime period but to call that and ruin the game… But it’s his call.”

It’s something to live with and move on from, the 18-year-old defenceman said.

It was an interesting game all around – one that saw a nine-minute powerplay for the Crushers and the first glimpse of three-on-three overtime for Truro.

After a scoreless first period, Denver Lynds got things started for the Bearcats with a goal at 5:56 of the second period. Midway through the frame, things got nasty as Zach Beaton took exception to a hit from Crushers forward Regan Spears. Beaton jumped Spears, landing several blows while the Crushers’ agitator dropped to the ice and turtled.

Beaton was given five for fighting, two for instigating and two for being the aggressor. Spears high fived his teammates as he skated to the bench penalty-free.

The Bearcats survived the nine-minute kill with just one goal against, to Davis at 16:07.

“You don’t see that very often,” said Bearcats coach Shawn Evans, referring to the lengthy powerplay.

Truro jumped out to an early lead in the third period, when 20-year-old newcomer Braydon Blight scored his first goal as a Bearcat with a seeing-eye point shot on the powerplay.

The Crushers had several chances denied by Bearcats goalie Jacob Fancy, until Davis beat him again with less than five minutes to play.

Overtime saw the teams drop two skaters and try the new format for the first time. The teams played man-to-man defence until the powerplay and ensuing winner on a high-slot shot from Davis.

“It was definitely tiring that’s for sure,” said Blight, who started the OT frame. “It’s a different change. There’s going to be a lot of offence out there, but it’s just sticking to your guy until you get a chance to jump in.”

Evans wasn’t a fan of the penalty call, but said the team could have done better to avoid the situation all together.

“I didn’t like it,” he said. “But you know what, at the end of the day, you have to find ways. Our goalie was really good tonight, but the shots indicate they were the better team... There are night where you take your one point and run. Tonight is one of those nights."

For Baggs, a fast and offensive-minded defender, his first taste of three-on-three didn’t go as planned.

“I love three-on-three and four-on-four hockey. It’s really exciting but it can end a game a lot quicker than a five-on-five… It never worked out for me tonight.”

The Bearcats will be back on home ice next Saturday when they host the Summerside Western Capitals at 7 p.m.